Fabregas?
Iniesta - Is there another? | Announces retirement
- Thread starter SAred
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If Iniesta scored alot more regularly and demonstrated that he can win games like he did v Chelsea on a more regular basis then he'd win this contest, but his personality is what prevents him from wanting to be star of the show hence his tendency to pass rather than attempt to score. Scholes similar personality but never shy to take a shot, great in the air also as well as his ability to ping long-range passes with unerring precision.
I think Fabregas is probably closer to Scholes in terms of being similar than Iniesta. Iniesta could be WPOTY, if there was no such thing as scoring goals..same could be said for Xavi.
Has more scoreboard impact than Iniesta: Scores more; assists more. Gets up and down the pitch more, has more responsibility.
Iniesta's excellent on the ball, and is quicker too. He's also far more versatile.
And a better dribbler.
Yeah, that's what I mean by excellent on the ball. As opposed to Fabregas who's average, though he's definitely improving this side of his game.
Fabregas is quite a good dribbler, his skills against Blackburn a few seasons ago and goal against Spurs are testament to this. Even xavi is not bad but they don't use it as much as Iniesta does who loves feeling the ball much more and teasing defenders than releasing it.
I take it you wrote that last bit on purpose? Very well done indeed good sir.
Or maybe I'm just 16 again.
I take it you wrote that last bit on purpose? Very well done indeed good sir.
Or maybe I'm just 16 again.
I bet it is. His all round game is better than both ever had.
Iniesta is just special, even more than Messi in my own little world.
There was a poster who mentioned De Rossi, De Rossi?? They must have been having a laugh
There was a poster who mentioned De Rossi, De Rossi?? They must have been having a laugh
It's not clear cut as you make out, as a midfielder all 3 are/were absolute world class.
Xavi and Scholes overall passing range is better than Iniesta's IMO, but Iniesta is probably the more complete midfielder because of his brilliant dribbling ability and pure talent with the ball, but there are some things he's still not quite as good as the other 2 in terms of midfield orchestration.
I'm a huge fan of Iniesta, but we're not comparing him to Lampard or Gerrard here. I do agree he can be better than them though. What a wonderful player.
I agree completely. Ive had the Xavi/Iniesta discussion a few times at this stage.
I think Xavi effects a game of football more and contributes more in terms of assists and goals (not alot in it though). Iniesta is such a good player to watch he tends to get more plaudits. He disappears alot more than Xavi when things arent going Barcas way.
Iniesta has this crazy acceleration that allows him to leave players for dead but you are right about Fabregas being a good dribbler, he has shown a few times he can go past players easily but he doesn't have that acceleration that someone like Iniesta does to leave people trailing.
Iniesta's a very good player but not as good as Xavi or Fabregas.
Who needs a better all round game when you have the passing range of Scholes or Xavi?
I prefer watchin Iniesta but Xavi is marginally the better player, as was a young Paul Scholes.
All 3 of them together at Barca next year will be some sight.
That makes little difference IMO. Iniesta is better than either defensively and a better dribbler than both. For me he has the better all round game. In terms of completeness.
I don't think the draw for next season's CL is done yet.
Wouldn't that make their midfield lacking physical presence ? With Xavi-Iniesta-Toure it's the perfect balance.
A young Paul Scholes wasn't that good a play maker. He came into his own as a play maker much later in hid career. Aged 26 upwards.
What does it have to do with needing? Iniesta can do what they do and more & is only about 25. In 2 years time fitenss and form permitting I expect him to be better than both at their best. IMO of the young midfielders around only Fabregas has a chance of being as good.
When I said "young", I meant when he was in his pomp.
If Fab ever goes there, Iniesta will probably take over Henry's role. & will have to start scoring more goals.
Not sure, about the same number we should have had last weekend
I do agree that he can do everything that Xavi or Scholes can do, I just don't agree that his passing is as good or consistent as those players mentioned. His dribbling makes up for that though, and is one of the reasons I really enjoy watching him play, he's so unpredictable.
Scary thing is; he is only going to get better playing with the calibre of players he is, week in week out. Same with Messi.
Iniesta in top top form is the best midfielder in the game because he has everything. He can score goals although that's not what he's best at but his passing is as good as anyone, he can play anywhere in the midfield, even as a wide striker and has skills and awareness of very few others. I've seen so much of him and he's a better player than Xavi, he could do everything Xavi does but then he has that added ability of beating men for fun. He hasnt hit top gear this season but that is down to injuries i think.
Messi took all the plaudits last season but in the last 1/3rd or even from the 2nd half you would have struggled to find a more influential or better player in world football. He is just unassuming, like the Barcelona Fletcher. He has went unnoticed because he doesnt make a fuss and is a solid professional always willing to help the team but really you just have to read what Guardiola said about him when he first started training with Barcelonas first team.
He was talking to Xavi and told him "you will retire me, but Iniesta? he will retire us all."
Messi took all the plaudits last season but in the last 1/3rd or even from the 2nd half you would have struggled to find a more influential or better player in world football. He is just unassuming, like the Barcelona Fletcher. He has went unnoticed because he doesnt make a fuss and is a solid professional always willing to help the team but really you just have to read what Guardiola said about him when he first started training with Barcelonas first team.
He was talking to Xavi and told him "you will retire me, but Iniesta? he will retire us all."
Fair enough.
Well summarised. Xavi always dictates the game whereas Iniesta is yet to demonstrate this on a consistent basis. Iniesta hasn't yet topped out his potential though, and when he does, in all likelihood he'll be the best midfielder in the world.
I look forward to watching Spain too.
Who was that other Italian boy we picked up with Macheda. Wasn't he meant to be a great central attacking player who everyone had high hopes for? Can't remember his name and haven't seen anything on him this season, did he leave?
My thoughts as well. Xavi is the finished product, so obviously he consistently performs at a higher level than, well, just about any other midfielder in the world.
Iniesta is probably more naturally talented in that he has more technical ability, but he's yet to surpass Xavi.
He's less productive too. Xavi weighed in with the most assists in la liga last season and 6 goals, Iniesta not so much. Despite playing up front at times.
When did Iniesta play upfront? Xavi played further last season than he has been in years and assists are a bullshit stat anyway
Iniesta's injuries and ability to play several positions hinders his productivity (as well as his lousy finishing)
Does Xavi ever get injured ?
Does Xavi ever get injured ?
He played on the left wing in Henry's role in the front 3.
Xavi got forward just like Iniesta did. Xavi made it count more often.
That's actually a very good point, and you can draw parallels to Rooney and Essien.
Versatility is something that has hindered all 3 players in one way or another.
Iniesta's ability to play out wide, up front, just about anywhere means that he rarely gets a good run of games in the centre - add his persistent injury problems into the mix, and the problem becomes even greater.
I don't think stats are that useful for midfielders in general, so I don't think his lack of goals comes into it.
Xavi doesn't score many more, and I don't pay any real attention to assists for midfielders, yet I still think he's better.
Don't really see your point.
Just means he's more well rounded, which he is. Doesn't mean he's better.
Right, so he's not better? So when you disagreed with me earlier, you weren't actually disagreeing with me?
Well done.
Iniesta dictates the game along with Xavi whenever he's in the middle of the 3. He can't as much on the left wing. What's all this about him disappearing more? Against Chelsea in both legs he was the one player in midfield who could break away from players and create play. Xavi tried to in them games but he was pressed a lot and he didn't have the acceleration like Iniesta does to get away from players, which made him less effective.
The assist stats aren't accurate. I can tell you that Iniesta created a hell of a lot more goals than them "assists" stats will tell you. He opens up defences with ease. Ekeke keeps going on about it though, as if Iniesta wasn't that good season because of his "stats". Bollocks.
I see this argument quite a lot but Iniesta's passing level is as good as theirs. He can hit the long pass, short pass, creative, outside of boot, left foot. Anything. He can pass as well as anyone. His chipped through ball to Dani Alves last season was one of the passes of the season for me.
07/08 Iniesta was Barcelona's best player but that year despite him being so great, he wasn't recognised outside of Spain and was still underrated. Maybe not many people saw as much of Barcelona that season but he was their best player and better than Xavi, definitely. Last season Xavi was very consistent, had a great start to the season but in the second half of the season, Iniesta performed to heights that Xavi couldn't imo. The way he was just ripping up teams was incredible. He played against United in the final and put in a man of the match performance while injured (he didn't play for months after the game, and he didn't play quite a while before it). Definitely the best performance against United last season and he did it on the biggest stage.
And no, Fabregas is not better than Iniesta. However, Iniesta/Xavi/Fabregas are probably the top 3 midfielders in the world.
The assist stats aren't accurate. I can tell you that Iniesta created a hell of a lot more goals than them "assists" stats will tell you. He opens up defences with ease. Ekeke keeps going on about it though, as if Iniesta wasn't that good season because of his "stats". Bollocks.
I_Live_Cement said:
I see this argument quite a lot but Iniesta's passing level is as good as theirs. He can hit the long pass, short pass, creative, outside of boot, left foot. Anything. He can pass as well as anyone. His chipped through ball to Dani Alves last season was one of the passes of the season for me.
johnmufc said:
07/08 Iniesta was Barcelona's best player but that year despite him being so great, he wasn't recognised outside of Spain and was still underrated. Maybe not many people saw as much of Barcelona that season but he was their best player and better than Xavi, definitely. Last season Xavi was very consistent, had a great start to the season but in the second half of the season, Iniesta performed to heights that Xavi couldn't imo. The way he was just ripping up teams was incredible. He played against United in the final and put in a man of the match performance while injured (he didn't play for months after the game, and he didn't play quite a while before it). Definitely the best performance against United last season and he did it on the biggest stage.
And no, Fabregas is not better than Iniesta. However, Iniesta/Xavi/Fabregas are probably the top 3 midfielders in the world.
petrucci. he's back after a 8 month injury layoff. supposedly next 'totti' and all that bollocks.
we'll see.